Ultraviolet-light therapeutic appliance



Aug. 20, 1929. R. D. KLEEMAN 1,725,357

ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT THERAPEUTIC APPLIANCE Filed Dec. 22, 1926 lNVENTORATTORNEY BYWW Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

RICHARD DANIEL KLEEMAN, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.

ULTRAVIOLET-LIGHT THERAPEUTIC APPLIANCE.

Application filed December 22, 1926. Serial No. 156,322.

My invention relates to therapeutic appliances, more particularly toappliances adapted to radiate ultra-violet light and it has for anobject to provide apparatus of the character designated which shall besmall, compact, inexpensive to manufacture and simple of construction.It has for a further object to provide an apparatus which may beconveniently applied to any portion of the human body and which shall becapable of stimulating the vascular system by the radiation of thoseshades of ultra-violet light which have been found to be the mostbeneficial.

These and other objects, which will be made more a parent through thefurther description of my invention, may be attained by the employmentof the apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form oftherapeutic appliance arranged in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2is a section taken on the line IIII of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a view, inelevation, of another form of therapeutic appliance arranged inaccordance with my invention.

In the therapeutic treatment of diseases of the skin by exposure of thelatter to violetray light, it has been the customary practice heretoforeto generate the necessary light waves by means of an electric arc lamp.However, the ultra-violet rays given off by an electric arc lay mostlyin the lower violet region whereas experience'has shown that the rays ofthe upper violet region are more effective both chemically andtherapeutically. Furthermore, experiments with the transmission ofultra-violet light upon the human body has shown that it is moreeffective to use a weak source of light for a long time than a strongsource of light for a short time, due to the formation of protectivechanges in the skin.

Reference is now made to the discovery of G. Reboul, as set forth inComptes Rendes 171 p. 1052 (1920); 172 p. 210, (1921); 173 p. 37 (1924),and Journal de Physique 6. 31 p. 341, 1922, that certain semi-conductorsof electricity in a porous or fibrous state radiate ultra-violet lightrays upon the passage of an electric current.

I have therefore conceived of an apparatus for the production andapplication of ultraviolet light which utilizes a pad of some poroussemi-conducting material which has been thoroughly soaked in a dilutesolution of an electrolyte and left to dry. The semiconducting materialis interposed between two electrodes connected through a suitableresistance to a source of electrical energy and the entire apparatus isprovided with a strap or some other suitable means for fastening it toany portion of the human body. In this Way, the passage of the currentthrough the semiconducting material emits ultra-violet light rays whichare reflected upon the human body and the vascular sys tem is thusstimulated.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description of myinvention, I show in Figs. 1 and 2 one form of apparatus which embodiesmy invention. It consists of an insulating plate 10 to whichis securedsome perforated or screen-like material such as wire gauze 11 preferablyarranged in the form illustrated and having, for example, about in.mesh.- Located within the wire gauze is a pad of semi-conductingmaterial 12. This semi-conducting material may, for example, consist ofblotting or filter paper which has been previously soaked in a dilutesolution of an electrolyte such as, for example, a two percent solutionof sulphuric acid in water, and then thoroughly dried. Pulverized saltsmay also be used if kept in place by sheets of heterogeneous paper. Thesalts mercuric sulphate, mercurous sulphate, or stannic oxide actparticularly well. The pad of semi-conducting material generally has anarea of about nine square inches and a thickness of about one-fourth orone-half of an inch although it is to be understood that it may be madeof any size or shape to suit the individual requirements.

The material 12 is retained against the wire gauze by an electrode 14which is secured to the insulating plate 10 by some resilient means suchas springs 15 which are arranged to slightly compress the material 12against the wire gauze 11. The electrode 14 is connected through one ofthe springs 15, a conductor 16 and. a wire 17 to one side of a source ofelectrical energy such as a battery, a house lighting circuit, etcetera. The wire gauze 11, which serves as the other electrode, isconnected through a wire 18 to the other side of the source ofelectrical energy. The external surface of the wire gauze is coatedpreferably with some insulating material such as varnish. A. suitableresistance 19 having a capacity of several hundred ohms is located conveniently in the electrical circuit. Suitable fastening means, such as astrap 21, is provided for securing the entire apparatus to the humanbody.

From the foregoing description, the opera tion of my apparatus will beapparent. The apparatus is secured. by means of the strap 21 to anyportion of the body which it is desired to treat, the gauze 11 beingarranged adjacent to the body. Upon the electrical current being turnedon, there is a flow of energy through the gauze 11 to the material 12from whence it passes through the electrode 14, spring 15 and conductor16, C0111- pleting the circuit. As discovered by Itcboul, the flow ofthe current through the material 12 results in radiating rays ofultraviolet light which are reflected upon that portion ofthe body towhich the apparatus is secured. As stated heretofore, the rays emittedlay in the upper violet region which region has been found to be mosteffective. While the rays given off by my form of apparatus are not asintensive as those developed by an electric arc, nevertheless moreeffective results are obtained by radiating a weak source of light for along period of time than'a strong source of light for a short period oftime. This may be readily accomplished with my form of apparatus becauseit is extremely light in weight and can be readily strapped to anyportion of the body for several hours without discomfi- 'ture. It mayeven be applied during the night while the person being treated isasleep.

While I have described the material 12 I as a semiconductor ofelectricity preferably composed of blotting or filter paper, it is to beunderstood that I may employ as the equivalents of blotting or filterpaper any other substances which are capable of producing the desiredresults without departing from my invention.

Although I have shown my apparatus as being so formed as to be bestadapted for application to a substantially fiat or level surface,nevertheless, it is apparent that I may curve it or give it any contouror conformation so as to make it conform with any portion ofthe body. Inaddition I may connect several elements, such as shown in Fig. 1,together so that relatively large portions of the body may be treated atone time.

In Fig. 3 I show another embodiment of my invention in which thematerial '12 is sewn or glued or secured in some approved manner to theelectrode 14, no gauze being provided. A second and separate electrode22 is provided which is secured to a second insulating plate 23 and isconnected through a conductor 24 to the wire 18. A suitable strap orfasteningmeans 25 is associated with each insulating plate. Vith thisarrangement, the electrode 22 and the material 12 are applied todifferent port-ions of the body and the current flows through thematerial 12 to the electrode 22, the circuit being completed by thepassage of the current through the body.

\Vhilc I have shown my invention in two forms, it is to be understood tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various other changes and modifications, without departing from thespirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitationsshall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as arespecifically set forth in the appended claims.

IV hat I claim is:

1. In a therapeutical device, the combination of a non-conductingsupporting member having attachment means associated therewith, asemi-conducting member treated with an electrolyte and in a dry statefor radiating ultra-violet light rays, said semiconducting member beingcarried by the non-conducting supporting member, and means for passing acurrent of electrical energy through the semi-conducting member.

2. In a therapeutical device, the combination of a non-conductingsupporting member having attachment means associated therewith, afibrous or porous substance with an electrolyte for violatingultra-violet light rays, said semi-conducting member being carried bythe supporting member, and means for transmitting a current electricalenergy entirely through said fibrous or porous substance.

3. In a therapeutical device, the combination of two relatively goodconductors adapted to be connected in circuit with a source ofelectrical energy, and a third relatively poor conductor connected inseries with and retained between the first two conductors for emittingtherapeutic light rays upon the passage of an electrical currenttherethrough, said third relatively poor conductor being composed ofabsorbent material which has been treated with an electrolyte.

I. In a thcrapeutical device, the combination of a relatively poorconductor composed of an absorbent material treated with an electrolyte,relatively good conductors arranged upon opposite sides of the poorconductor, one of said good conductors being perforated and having itsexternal surface insulated, and means for passing a current ofelectrical energy through the three conductors in series for emittingultra-violet light rays through the openings in the perforated conductorby the poor conductor.

5. In a therapeutical device, the combination of an insulating memberhaving attachment .means associated therewith, a perforated conductingmember secured to the insulating member, a second conducting memberinterposed between the perforated conducting member and the insulatingmember and flexibly supported upon the latter, a semi-conductor treatedWith an electrolyte and dry for radiating ultra-violet rays, saidsemi-conductor being retained under compression between the perforatedconducting member and the flexibly supported conducting member, andmeans for connecting the three conductors in circuit With a source ofelectrical energy.

6. In a therapeutical device, the combination of an insulating memberhaving attachment means associated therewith, a perforated conductingmember secured to the insulating member, a second conductin memberinterposed between the perforated conducting member and the insulatingmember and flexibly supported upon the latter, a fibrous member treatedwith an electrolyte for radiating ultra-violet rays retained undercompression between the perforated conducting member and the flexiblesupported conducting member, means for insulating the exterior surfaceof the perforated conducting member, and means for connecting the threeconductors in circuit with a source of electrical energy.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 8 day ofDec, 1926.

RICHARD DANIEL KLEEMAN.

